Double El Conservation District and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) gives notice that it will hold a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting. The public meeting is being held to seek input from our constituents in developing conservation priorities for our local conservation concerns and direct NRCS programs. This meeting is open to the public. […]
Free Virtual Noxious Weed Control Workshop
The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) promotes the use of biological control in pest management since the 1940s. The Palisade Insectary is home to the Biological Pest Control Program which manages about 20 different species of biologic control agents for use against both noxious weeds and insect pests. Join the free, virtual Zoom workshop, hosted […]
Planning for 2021 Growing & Grazing Season
Co-authored by Retta Brugger, CSU Range Extension Specialist & Julie Elliott, CO NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist How can you make well-informed decisions for summer grazing? We all know that 2020 was a drought year in Colorado. Soils are dry and will need to be refilled. When do we need the moisture for summer grass? How […]
Beneficial Plants for Pollinators
While spring season means we are on the lookout for noxious weeds, it’s all the time of year to supplement or add back in native plants that are beneficial to our pollinators. “Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. More than […]
Free Windbreak Workshop – February 4, 2020
The Double El Conservation District is hosting a free Windbreak Workshop on February 4th at 6:30 p.m. at the Big Sandy School cafeteria, 18091 CR 125, Simla, Colorado. (Just south of Hwy 24, east side of Simla) Topics Topics covered include trees selection, tree spacing, windbreak placement and tree planting and care. Door prizes will […]
Good Grazing, Good Grass
District Conservationist Paul Billig prepared an informational video clip for the Annual Meeting of the Double El Conservation, sharing ways to preserve, protect and assess rangeland health. “Think of the grassland as a checking account at your bank. If you continually take out of it (continuous grazing), you’re going to end up with nothing in […]
Celebrating Conservation Milestone
Reed and Erin Petersek joined the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) along with hundreds of farmers and ranchers. Through their participation, the milestone of 7 million acres are now being cared for by those who give extra care to the acres they oversee. USDA NRCS thanks each and every one of our participants.
DIY Rain Barrel Installation
Colorado State University Extension shows how to build and install your own rain barrel for maximum stability and ease of use.
Small Acreage Grazing Assessment Form
Introduction Maintaining healthy dryland small acreage pastures can be challenging in Colorado, but it is a realistic goal. This guide will help pasture managers assess pasture condition and offer suggestions for improvements. Key strategies, such as determining carrying capacity, implementing rotational grazing, using indicator grasses to monitor when to start and stop grazing and keeping […]
Controlling Plains Prickly Pear
Plains prickly pear can be a troublesome plant on rangelands and overgrazed areas. Animals will not graze around cactus and much forage can be lost in a pasture that has a significant amount of prickly pear. Once established, it will continue to spread, particularly if overgrazing occurs. Within a couple years, cactus will be the […]